A Toilet Including a Water Trap Having a Conical Part

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a toilet comprising a bowl ( 1 ), a water trap ( 2 ) including a conical part ( 2 ) in the form of a curved cone with an inlet ( 3 ) connected to the bowl and an outlet ( 4 ), and a flushing system ( 6 ) comprising at least one nozzle ( 7   a ) adapted to flush clean the water trap by generating a vortex of water in the conical part. The conical part is designed with increasing diameter in a direction towards the outlet, wherein the diameter of the outlet of the conical part is larger than the diameter of the inlet of the conical part.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toilet comprising of a bowl, a water trap including a conical part in the form of a curved cone with an inlet connected to the bowl, and a flushing system disposed to flush the water trap by generating a water vortex in the water trap.

PRIOR ART

Traditionally designed toilets require a flow rate of about 50 liters/minute in order to cope with rinsing the water trap. As the water flow in the water supply pipes in typical households is typically 10 liters/minute, most toilets are provided with a tank that is filled with water between flushes. One disadvantage of a toilet bowl with tank is that it is bulky and takes much space. It is therefore desirable to have toilets without a tank which instead takes its flush water directly from the water supply pipe. One problem that must be solved with such kind of toilet is how to get a sufficiently efficient emptying of the water trap during a flush. More specifically the problem is that, on the inlet side to get the light particles to be pushed down and pass the curved section of the water trap, and that on the outlet side to get the heavy particles to be lifted up and leave through the sewer pipe. Various solutions are known to this problem.

U.S. 2011/0016623 show a toilet that will flush water directly from incoming water supply pipe, and thus do not need a tank. The toilet includes a bowl and a U-shaped water trap having an inlet connected to the bowl and an outlet for connection to an outlet pipe. The water trap has the form of a curved cone which tapers in the direction of outlet. The flushing water is injected at the level of the water trap inlet and forms a downward flow in the water trap. Flow tapers downwards towards the curved part of the water trap and forms at that level, eddies that moves through the curved portion of the water trap, and in that way cleans the curved portion.

JP2008045276 also show a toilet without a tank, that takes flushing water directly from the incoming water supply pipe. The toilet has two flush water inlets arranged in a manner that they together generate a vertical water vortex that extends from the bowl until curved portion of the water trap. The purpose of the vortex is that light particles in the bowl will accompany the flow of water from the bowl and get pulled down in the water trap.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved toilet requiring less water flow for flushing and that can be connected directly to the incoming water supply pipe, and thus does not need a water tank.

This object is achieved with a toilet as defined in claim 1.

A toilet according to the invention is characterized in that the conical part is designed with increasing diameter in a direction towards the outlet, wherein the diameter of the outlet of the conical part is larger than the diameter of the inlet of the conical part.

The water trap is flushed by means of a vortex created in the trap by one or more water jets. The water trap has the form of a cone which is tapered towards the inlet. The vortex is generated in the narrow part of the cone and is spreading towards the wide part. Due to the increasing diameter toward the outlet of the cone, the shape and the centrifugal force contributes to having particles and water moving faster towards the wide end of the cone. Computer simulations have shown that an efficient emptying of particles in the water trap is achieved when the diameter increases towards the outlet. Due to the efficient emptying of the water trap, the toilet can be flushed with a reduced water flow. Having a toilet according to the invention, it is possible to achieve sufficient flush power at the pressure and water flow rates encountered in a typical household without having to use a water tank. Further benefits of a toilet according to the invention are that it requires less material for production, requires less space as installed and requires less maintenance.

With a curved cone is meant that a wall of the conical part is curved or bent. For example, the conical part is U-shaped, or the wall of the conical part is bent outwards.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the outlet diameter is more than 10% greater than the inlet diameter, preferably more than 20% larger than the inlet diameter, and most preferably more than 30% larger than the inlet pipe diameter. By increasing the outlet diameter relative to the inlet diameter there will be a more efficient emptying of the particles in the water trap.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the water trap has a tubular wall and comprises of at least one nozzle which is arranged to generate a water jet tangentially along the inside of the water trap wall. By tangentially it is meant that the water jet is generated parallel to the surface of the water trap and substantially perpendicular the propagation of the water trap. Due to that the water jet is generated tangentially along the inner wall of the water trap, a vortex is formed along the water trap wall, which due to the water trap shape grows in size and speed in the direction of the water trap outlet.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the nozzle is designed as an opening in the water trap wall.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the water trap wall comprises of two wall parts arranged so that they partially overlap each other in the tangential direction and that the nozzle is designed as an opening between said wall parts. In this way, a water jet is in a simple manner generated tangentially along the inner wall surface of the water trap. This is a robust design without any moving parts.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the flushing system comprises of at least two nozzles spaced from one another, and each of the nozzles is arranged to generate a water jet tangentially with water trap inner wall surface. Two nozzles provide two water jets and a more uniform vortex.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the conical part has a curved portion and the nozzle is located between that curved portion and the inlet.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the nozzle is located nearer the inlet than the curved portion.

Preferably, the flushing system has a connection that supplies flushing water directly from an incoming water supply pipe. Hence, the flushing system requires no water tank.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the toilet includes more than two nozzles and a chamber to equalize and distribute the flow between the nozzles. Such chamber includes an exterior wall that encloses the water trap and the nozzles, and the outer wall is provided with an inlet opening for incoming water supply. The chamber serves to equalize the pressure in the water supply and to distribute the flow between the nozzles so that both nozzles provide same water flow rate. In this way, the water is distributed evenly among multiple nozzles.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the conical part is tubular and partly turned inside out. The water trap comprises two wall parts arranged so that water can be trapped between the two wall parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained more closely by the description of different embodiments of the invention and with reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section cut through an embodiment of a toilet according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a first example of a water trap to a toilet according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the toilet in FIG. 1 from a top view.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a flushing system for a toilet according to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows the flushing system of FIG. 4 in a perspective view.

FIG. 6 shows a second example of a flushing system for a toilet according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a second example of a water trap to a toilet according to the invention.

FIG. 8 shows the water trap in FIG. 7 from a top view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a cross section cut through a toilet according to an embodiment of the invention. The toilet comprises a bowl 1, a water trap 2 in the form of a curved cone with an inlet 3 which is connected to the bowl, and an outlet 4 for connection to a sewer pipe 5, and a flushing system 6 arranged that upon activation, flush the water trap by generating a water vortex that travels towards the outlet. The sewer pipe 5 may be a part of toilet, or a separate part that is mounted in place. The flushing system 6 includes at least one nozzle. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has two nozzles 7 a-b. The toilet bowl shape is preferably gently sloping towards the water trap inlet 3. The toilet is preferably made of porcelain, but may also be made of other materials such as metal sheet or plastic. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, all or at least part of the water trap inner wall is coated with a layer of hydrophobic material. Preferably greater portion of the inner wall is coated with hydrophobic material. At low pressure and low water flows, the creation of the water vortex will be facilitated since the friction with the water trap inner surface is reduced by a layer of hydrophobic material.

The water trap 2 is shown more in detail in FIG. 2. Preferably the water trap has a substantially circular cross section. It is also possible to use other forms of cross section, for example an elliptical cross section. The water trap 2 is formed with increasing diameter towards the outlet 4. Diameter D2 of the outlet 4 is thus larger than the diameter D1 of the inlet 3. The water trap has the shape of a curved mathematical cone with the narrow portion towards the toilet bowl and the wide part at the outlet pipe.

The water trap comprises of a narrow inlet 10, a lower curved portion 11 and a wide outlet 12. The narrow inlet portion 10 extends from the inlet 3 to the curved lower part 11 and wide outlet portion 12 extends from the outlet 4 to the curved lower portion 11. Also, the narrow and the wide portion may have a curved shape. Outlet 4 has a diameter D2 which is more than 10% greater than the inlet diameter D1, preferably more than 20% greater than inlet diameter D1, and most preferably more than 30% larger than the inlet diameter D1. For example, the diameter D1 is 60 mm and the diameter D2 is 120 mm. Preferably, the distance between the outlet and the bottom of the curved portion is the same or greater than the distance between the inlet and the bottom of the curved portion.

The water trap has a tubular wall 13 and the nozzles 7 a-b are formed as openings in the water trap wall. The nozzles 7 a-b are distanced from each other. In the embodiment as shown, the nozzles are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the inlet 3. The nozzles 7 a-b are arranged in a manner to generate water jets tangentially with water trap inner wall surface.

Due to the generation of the water jets tangential to the inner surface of the water trap it creates a rotating vortex that follows the water trap inner wall in the direction the outlet 4. The water jets start rotation of the water in the water trap and therefore generate a vortex that will pull particles. The vortex generated is cone shaped with an increasing diameter towards the outlet. In alternative embodiments of invention, the nozzles can also be arranged so as to generate water jets in an angle which differs from 90° relative to the water trap propagation. To achieve a good enough effect, the water jets are generated at an angle to the water trap propagation direction in the range of 70-110°, or preferably in the range of 80-100°.

The nozzles 7 a-b should be arranged in the narrow section 10 of the water trap i.e. between the inlet 3 and the curved portion 11 in order for the water vortex to lead particles from the narrow portion 11 to the wide portion 12 of the water trap. Preferably, the nozzles are arranged closer to the inlet 3 than the curved portion 11. Nozzles 7 a-b are, for example, distanced about 3 cm below the inlet 3.

FIG. 3 shows the toilet in FIG. 1 from a top view. The flushing system includes a connection 9 for incoming water, for example in the form of externally threaded pin tube. The inlet 3 to the water trap is circular.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of a flushing system, 6. FIG. 4 shows the flushing system 6 as seen from above and FIG. 5 shows the flushing system in a perspective view. The flushing system 6 comprises of a vortex generator in the form of two diametrically opposite nozzles. The water trap wall comprises of two curved wall parts 14 a-b which partially overlaps each other in the tangential direction. The nozzles 7 a-b are formed as openings between the wall parts 14 a-b. The design of the wall portions 14 a-b is such that the outflow of water will go strictly tangentially with the water trap inside. The wall parts 14 a-b should overlap each other in a manner that water is led in the tangential direction. The opening area of each of the nozzles 7 a-b is, for example, 1.5 to 2 cm².

In this embodiment the flushing system 6 comprises of a chamber 16 arranged in connection with the nozzles 17 a-b. The chamber 16 is designed to equalize and distribute the flow between nozzles, so that there is the same pressure and flow of both the nozzles. Chamber 16 comprises of an outer wall 20 which encloses the water trap and the nozzles 7 a-b. The chamber is defined by the wall 20 and part of the water trap wall. The chamber is provided with an inlet opening 17 which is directly connected to the connection 9 for the incoming water.

FIG. 6 shows a second example of a flushing system 20 to a toilet according to the invention. The flushing system 20 comprises of a vortex generator in the form a nozzle 21 arranged tangentially with water trap wall.

FIG. 7 shows a second example of a water trap for a toilet according to the invention. FIG. 8 shows the water trap in FIG. 7 from a top view. FIG. 7 shows a vertical cross section cut through the water trap. The water trap comprises a conical part 2′ in the form of a curved cone with an inlet 3′ which is connected to a bowl (not shown) and an outlet 4′, and a flushing system 6′ arranged that upon activation, flush the water trap by generating a water vortex in the conical part that travels towards the outlet 4′. The flushing system 6 includes at least one nozzle. The shape of the conical part 2′ is rotationally symmetric, as a sponge baking tin with a cone in the middle. The conical part 2′ is tubular and partly turned inside out. The water trap further comprises a tray 24 arranged below the conical part 2′ and having a side wall 25. The conical part 2′ comprises an outer wall part 26 that is bent such that water can be trapped between the side wall 25 of the tray 24 and the outer wall part 26. An advantage with this embodiment is that the water trap is emptied in all directions in the x-y plane, as seen from above. The previous example of the water trap 2 only empties the water trap in one direction in the x-y plane, as seen from above. The nozzles are similar as in the previous examples, and positioned in the top of the conical part. In the previous example, the cone is bent in the shape of an U. However, in this example, the wider part of the cone is turned inside out. A sewer 5″ surrounds the water trap 2′ and receives water from the water trap, as shown in FIG. 7.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but may be varied and modified within the scope of the following claims. For example, the number of nozzles can vary from one nozzle to more than two nozzles. The flushing system can be designed in other ways. Other types of nozzles can be used. It is also possible to combine the invention with a small tank to thereby further increase the flow in the water trap. 

1. A toilet comprising a bowl (1), a water trap including a conical part (2; 2′) in the form of a curved cone with an inlet (3; 3′) connected to the bowl and an outlet (4; 4′), and a flushing system (6; 6′; 20) comprising at least one nozzle (7 a-b; 21) adapted to flush clean the water trap by generating a vortex of water in the conical part, wherein the conical part is designed with increasing diameter in a direction towards the outlet, and the diameter (D2;D2′) of the outlet of the conical part is larger than the diameter (D1;D1′) of the inlet of the conical part.
 2. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the outlet (4) has a diameter (D2; D2′) which is more than 10% larger than the inlet diameter (D1;D2′).
 3. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the conical part (2; 2′) has a tubular wall and said at least one nozzle (7 a-b; 21) is arranged to generate a water jet tangentially with an inside of the wall.
 4. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the conical part (2; 2′) has a tubular wall and said nozzle (7 a-b; 21) is formed as an opening in said tubular wall.
 5. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the conical part (2; 2′) has a tubular wall including two wall parts (14 a-b) arranged to provided so that they partly overlap each other in the tangential direction and said nozzle (7 a-b) is designed as an opening between said wall parts.
 6. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the flushing system (6; 6′) comprises of at least two nozzles (7 a-b) distanced from each other, and each of the nozzles are arranged to generate a water jet tangentially with an inside wall of the conical part.
 7. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the water trap (2) has a lower curved portion (11) and said nozzle (7 a-b; 21) is arranged between the inlet (3) and the lower curved portion.
 8. The toilet according to claim 7, wherein said nozzle (7 a-b; 21) is arranged closer to the inlet (3) than to the curved portion (11).
 9. The toilet according to claim 7, wherein the flushing system (6; 20) has a connection (9) which is arranged to receive flushing water directly from an incoming water supply pipe.
 10. The toilet according to claim 7, wherein the flushing system (6; 6′; 20) comprises more than two nozzles (7 a-b), and a chamber (16) to equalize and distribute the flow between the nozzles, the chamber including an outer wall (20) enclosing the water trap and the nozzles and having an inlet opening (17) for incoming water.
 11. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the flushing system (6; 20) has a connection (9) which is arranged to receive flushing water directly from an incoming water supply pipe.
 12. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the flushing system (6; 6′; 20) comprises more than two nozzles (7 a-b), and a chamber (16) to equalize and distribute the flow between the nozzles, the chamber including an outer wall (20) enclosing the water trap and the nozzles and having an inlet opening (17) for incoming water.
 13. The toilet according to claim 2, wherein the outlet (4) has a diameter (D2; D2′) which is more than 20% larger than the inlet diameter)(D1;D2′).
 14. The toilet according to claim 13, wherein the outlet (4) has a diameter (D2; D2′) which is more than 30% larger than the inlet diameter (D1;D2′). 